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E-mailThree Irish doctors perish in crash
PRESIDENT Mary McAleese and Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian Cowen led a string of tributes to the memory of the three young doctors, all friends and one a former Riverdance star, who are missing feared dead in the Air France trans-Atlantic disaster.
McAleese said, “My thoughts and prayers, and the thoughts of everyone, are with the Irish families and the families of everyone on board at this very difficult time.”
Cowen said, “The government is deeply concerned and wants to express its solidarity with families who are anxiously waiting for news of loved ones. Our primary concern is for the families during this difficult time. The government is offering support to the families as they wait news of their loved ones.”
An unnamed Irishman was also reported to be on the passenger list but was thought not to have boarded the flight. Aer Lingus said two of its Dublin-based employees were on board, but their nationalities were not disclosed.
The three recently qualified Irish doctors feared dead were among the 228 people who were on the flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris when it disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean on Monday.
Aisling Butler, from Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, Jane Deasy from Rathgar, Co. Dublin, and Eithne Walls from Ballygowan, Co. Down, were aged between 26 and 29. They graduated together from medical school at Trinity College Dublin in 2007 and registered with the Medical Council last year. They were returning from a holiday in Brazil.
Butler’s father, John, said he believed his daughter was dead. “It is just about trying to live now,” he added. “I have to live for my wife and my only other daughter.”
He said Aisling celebrated her 26th birthday just over two weeks ago and was doing an internship in Tallaght Hospital in Dublin. She was due to transfer to St. James’ Hospital in the city next month.
Walls, who worked in Dublin’s Eye and Ear Hospital, was a member of the world-famous Riverdance troupe and performed on Broadway before beginning six years of medical studies at Trinity College.
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